Painting with ageless abandon

Published 5:48 pm, Sunday, January 12, 2014

Photo: Lisa Weir

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Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion. Participants take a selfie to remember the fun, From left Elizabeth Pettinicchi, 21, from Cheshire, Marlena Giannamore, 21, from Greenville N.C. and Liana Giannamore, 21, from Willington, CT. Friday Dec. 27, 2013.

Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion. Participants

Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion.
Friday Dec. 27, 2013. less

Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion.
Friday Dec. ... more

Darrah Marcinko from New Milford, right, takes a look at Liz Brady's painting during Date Night Paint Along on Friday Dec. 27, 2013.

Darrah Marcinko from New Milford, right, takes a look at Liz Brady's painting during Date Night Paint Along on Friday Dec. 27, 2013.

Photo: Lisa Weir

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Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion. participants were encouraged to take pictures of their paintings and while they were at it other memories as well.
Friday Dec. 27, 2013. less

Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion. participants ... more

Photo: Lisa Weir

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Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion.
Friday Dec. 27, 2013. less

Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion.
Friday Dec. ... more

Photo: Lisa Weir

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Painter Deb Soweby from New Milford gives instruction to a participant during Date Night Paint Along at Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford Friday Dec. 27, 2013.

Painter Deb Soweby from New Milford gives instruction to a participant during Date Night Paint Along at Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford Friday Dec. 27, 2013.

Photo: Lisa Weir

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Tina Hartlett, 22, from newtown adds reflections to her painting during a Date Night Paint Along at Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford Friday Dec. 27, 2013.

Tina Hartlett, 22, from newtown adds reflections to her painting during a Date Night Paint Along at Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford Friday Dec. 27, 2013.

Photo: Lisa Weir

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Roberta Baker, left, from New Milford helps with the Date Night Paint Along that was held at Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford on Friday Dec. 27, 2013. Participants are from left, Liz Brady from New Jersey, Darrah Marcinko from New Milford and Tina Hartlett from newtown. less

Roberta Baker, left, from New Milford helps with the Date Night Paint Along that was held at Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford on Friday Dec. 27, 2013. Participants are from left, Liz ... more

Photo: Lisa Weir

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Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion. This is the finished product.
Friday Dec. 27, 2013. less

Village Center for the Arts on the green in New Milford holds a Date Night Paint Along where Deb Sowerby of New Milford instructs participants on how to create a painting from start to completion. This is the ... more

It's easy to visualize children totally losing themselves in painting imaginative pictures, but now the center is offering uninhibited painting for those who aren't kids anymore.

Village Center instructor Deb Sowerby recently conceived the "Date Night Paint Along," to which she suggests you "bring a date, bring a friend and your favorite beverage... and create your very own masterpiece."

Her concept grew out of the contrast in painting classes between kids and adults.

"Kids don't worry about being good enough. They just go for it. They have fun and learn," she said. "Sometimes grown-ups seem to forget that they don't have to justify enjoying their free time."

If you're looking for some ageless, lighthearted, free-spirited activity in the new year, Village Center for the Arts offers Paint Along sessions monthly.